Lower Mill Estate and The Cotswolds

Lower Mill Estate (LME) is 5 miles from Cirencester and is in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park at the Southern edge of the Cotswolds. It is easily accessible by road (M4 and M5) and offers a great base for exploring all the Cotswolds towns as well as Bath and Oxford, all within a 40 mile radius.

Much of the 500 acre estate is given over to natural habitat and there are several sites of special scientific interest. Lower Mil Estatel takes its name from the historic water mill found at the entrance, one of only two still working on the river Thames, which flows through the area.

The Lower Mill Estate benefits from an abundance of activities for all age groups, including sailing, fishing, and animal and bird watching. Guests also have unlimited access to the exclusive, world class ArtSpa which offers a full range of fitness options including slate lined 20m indoor pool, slate lined 15m outdoor pool and outdoor plunge eco pool, sauna, steam room and fully equipped gym, as well as a range of rejuvenating spa treatments.

There are many picturesque local pubs and restaurants within a short drive and The Bakers Arms in Somerford Keynes (serving food all week) is within walking distance. An organic shop can also be found at Lower Mill Estate for daily essentials. As well as a wide variety of birdlife on the eight lakes found at Lower Mill Estate, other residents include barn owls, deer, otters and the only "wild" beaver population in the UK.

Lower Mill Estate is within the Cotswolds Water Park holiday area with lots of water based activities ranging from a man made beach to waterskiing, angling and sailing. Golf, bicycle hire and horse-riding are also just a few minutes drive from the house.

The Cotswold Waterpark is made up of almost 150 lakes and covers an area of 40 square miles. Nearly all of the lakes are man-made through the extraction of gravel and have either been left to nature upon completion, which has resulted in some magnificent wildlife habitats or managed for the provision of a variety of leisure activities. Whether the lakes have been left to their own devices or serve a specific function, they all blend effortlessly into the landscape.

In the surrounding Water Park area there is an extensive range of water sports available, golf, fishing and horse riding. Bicycles can be hired onsite and locally.

The Thames Path begins at Cirencester and has many lovely walks along its 170 mile journey to the sea. The Thames is about 2m in width when it flows through Lower Mill Estate and The Cotswold Water Park.

For further information on the Cotswolds Water Park area please visit www.waterpark.org

The Cotswolds are steeped in history from the Roman times and there are some beautiful historic houses and estates to explore: such as Chedworth Roman Villa, Dyrham Park, Sudeley Castle.

There are many charming villages nearby which will make for a wonderful day out with Cirencester being the local town. It is an historic Roman town in the heart of the Cotswolds with attractions from a Roman Amphitheatre to the nearby Chedworth Roman Villa. The Corinium Museum is an important source of information on the local history. Cirencester has many fine examples of historic mosaics, including one which can be found near the Brewery Arts Centre in the heart of Cirencester.

The Cotswolds area is a popular area for its picturesque towns and rolling fields with beautiful towns such as Cheltenham and Cirencester, and many stunning villages such as Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford and Moreton-in-the-Marsh.

Cheltenham became a popular spa in the 18th century, and its Regency architecture remains very well preserved, and it also offers an abundance of boutique shopping and restaurants.

Bibury - is a charming, typically Cotswold village, just 15 miles from LME. Bibury (pictured right) was once described by William Morris (1834-96) as "the most beautiful village in England".

Bourton-on-the-Water - is known as "The Venice of the Cotswolds" and is an extremely popular attraction. Elegant 18th century bridges cross Windrush river, as it flows through the centre of the village.

Stow-on-the-Wold - is a delightful market town and along with Moreton-in-Marsh, perhaps the best known of the small Cotswolds towns.

Lower Slaughter - is a quaint village which sits beside the little Eye stream and is known for its’ unspoilt limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswold style.

Upper Slaughter - The village of Upper Slaughter is one mile away from Lower Slaughter and resides on a gentle grassy slope above the stream that connects the two villages.

Moreton-in-Marsh - is one of the principal market towns in the northern Cotswolds situated on the Fosse Way and now served by the main line railway from London. It grew up in the thirteenth century as a market town with a wide main street, narrow burgage plots and back lanes. There is still a busy Tuesday market with about 200 stalls attracting many visitors.

Bibury

Lower Slaughter

Bibury

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